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READ THE SHEPHERD

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

The

ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

EACH WEEK THE ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD provides all the information you need to know and links to things that you might need to cross off your list. Stay organized by reading it every week and making sure that you add events and deadlines to your calendar!

LET'S DO IT!

DATES TO REMEMBER 2/3 - Catholic Schools Week Mass & Carnival - 5:00 2/7 - School Mass - 8th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 2/12 - 101st Day of School - K & 1st Celebration 2/13 - Burning of the Palms - 10:00 2/13 - Valentine’s Parties - 2:30 2/14 - School Mass - 5th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 Ash Wednesday 2/19 - No School - Presidents Day 2/20 - Stations of the Cross - Time TBA 2/21 - School Mass - Kindergarten Leading Liturgy - 8:15 2/23 - History Day 2/24 - Preschool Open House 11:00-1:00 2/27 - Stations of the Cross - Time TBS 2/28 - School Mass - 6th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 2/29 - K-8 Open House for New Families 3/4-3/8 - ITBS Testing 3/5 - Stations of the Cross - Time TBA 3/6 - School Mass - 3rd Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 3/7 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15 3/11-3/14 - ITBS Retakes 3/13 - School Mass - 6th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 3/15 - No School - End of Quarter/Professional Development 3/18-3/22 - No School - Spring Break

WWW.STCOLUMBASCHOOLDURANGO.ORG/

970-247-5527

A Heartfelt Thank You and Classroom Challenge Winners We offer our prayers of thanksgiving for the generosity of our community and the gift of God’s infinite charity freely given. May God continue to bless you with a servant’s heart and a generous spirit. Amen. St. Columba Community Members and Friends: We are humbled and grateful–and touched beyond words by the success of this year’s St. Columba Day of Giving! Wednesday’s event is a true testament to our wonderful community of students, faculty, staff, parents, families, grandparents, parishioners, alumni, friends, and the Durango community. The event raised over $227,000, and welcomed the participation of over 400 donors. The campaign was a success and also generated a high level of excitement and enthusiasm from a diverse body of constituents across the St. Columba community. Donations made on the Day of Giving will help us support the daily operating budget, providing resources for both ongoing and newer initiatives including enhanced academic and enrichment offerings, investing in our teachers, tuition assistance, and making improvements to facilities including classroom equipment, technology, and infrastructure support.

CONGRATULATIONS to our Classroom Challenge Winners: Classroom with the Most Donors by Noon Receives Ice Cream Social and Free Dress Day 7th Grade Classroom with the Most Overall Donors Receives In-Class Movie with Popcorn, Snacks, and Free Dress Day 2nd Grade Classroom with the Most Money Raised Receives Lunch Party of their Choice and Free Dress Day 5th Grade 2nd Place Classroom with the Most Money Raised Receives Lunch Party of their Choice and Free Dress Day 8th Grade School-Wide Lunch Celebration for 100% Participation Every Classroom is a winner and every classroom will receive a McDonald’s Lunch Party and Free Dress Day We will be getting in touch with the individuals who received donor challenge prizes. We are so grateful and proud of our community of supporters Our hearts have been deeply touched by your generosity and capacity to give. Thank you again for your faithful support.

PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

THANK YOU

TO OUR 2024 GIVING DAY SPONSORS!

CSW Mass and Peace, Love, and Snowdown Carnival Saturday, February 3 We'll see you this tonight at the Catholic School’s Week 5PM Family Mass & Peace, Love, and Snowdown Carnival Join us at the 5pm Mass tonight to celebrate with your St. Columba family. We’ll then head to the school gym to enjoy our Peace, Love, and Snowdown Carnival full AND of games, CSW MASS PEACE, food, drinks, and laughter from 6-8pm. This carnival and LOVE, SNOWDOWN dinner is completely FREE as we thank youAND for being part of our St. Columba community. This is a very popular event for THEME CARNIVAL, our students. You don't want to miss it. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 What to bring: Cash for donations at the bar Cupcakes for the very popular Cupcake Walk Event Info & Volunteer Opportunities: Help us plan ahead by reserving your food by clicking here . It's quick and easy. SKA beer and wine will be offered for a suggested $5 donation. There are still a few volunteer spots available to work a 1/2-hour shift at one of the fun carnival games. Click here to sign up. We would love to have middle schoolers and high schoolers join the fun at the face-painting booth. They are also welcome to help take a shift at any of the other carnival games! Click here to sign up. We would love to see our young alumni high school students, older siblings, and former teachers and staff! We will have tables reserved for these guests to visit with one another and catch up. Spread the word! We hope to see you in your Snowdown finery!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK FUN!!

You’re invited to a parish and school town hall meeting! We would like your input on our big picture plans for improving our parish and school facilities. A team of volunteers has worked for 18 months to help analyze our parish and school needs. Your input will help us prioritize our plans. Options: Thursday evening, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym Saturday, Feb. 10 before Mass at 3:15 p.m. in the parish center Sunday, Feb. 11 after Mass at 11 a.m. in church. Please contact the church office if you'd like to sign up for child care during a town hall. We also plan to offer a Zoom town hall meeting the following week. In addition, we will be conducting an online survey to ensure we receive as much feedback as possible. Thank you in advance for your participation in this important process as we ensure proper stewardship of God's many gifts at St. Columba!

Parents Coffee, Friday, February 9th, 8am at Taste (after morning drop off): Join the Parents Association for coffee and fellowship on the 2nd Friday of every month starting in February. All are welcome! Come have coffee or tea with other parents on the 2nd Friday of every month. This will be an opportunity to connect with each other and discuss school happenings. This month's topics will include sharing ideas for upcoming spring events. We look forward to seeing you!

TAKE YOUR SWEETHEART OUT AND LEAVE THE KIDS WITH US! SIGN UP NOW!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS FR. KEVIN PROVIDES WEEKLY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ENRICH THEIR FAITH BY CONTEMPLATING SUNDAY READINGS.

Based on the readings for the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1:29-39 (74) Pss I S o m e w o u l d s a y , “ B u c k u p a n d g e t o n w i t h i t ! ” w h e n t o u g h t im e s c o m e . T h o s e f o l k s a r e c l e a r l y n o t f a m i l i a r w i t h J o b w h o h a d lo s t j u s t a bo u t e v e r y t h i n g a t t h i s p o i n t i n t h e b o o k o f t h e B i b l e be a rin g h is n a m e . Th e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n J o b a n d m a n y o f u s t h o u g h , i s t h a t h e m a in t a in e d a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , b r i n g i n g t h e o n l y t h i n g h e h a d: h is o w n dis c o u ra g e d, d e p r e s s e d , c o n f u s e d s e l f . W h e n h a v e y o u f o u n d y ou rs e lf do u bt in g G o d’ s e x i s t e n c e b e c a u s e o f s o m e t h i n g a w f u l h a p p e n i n g i n y o u r life ? W h e n h a v e y o u e n c o u n t e r e d a n o t h e r t e r r i b l e s i t u a t i o n a n d f o u n d c o m fo rt k n o w in g G o d w a s w a l k i n g t h i s p a i n f u l p a t h w i t h y o u ; a n d w a s ‘ b i g e n o u g h ” t o de a l w it h your complaints, maybe anger? I n t h e L e t t e r t o t h e C o r i n t h i a n s t o d a y , P a u l c l a i m s h is re s po n s ibilit y t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l . H o w e v e r r a t h e r t h a n c l a i m i n g h i s s t a t u s a s a c e le brit y , h e o p t s t o c u t a c r o s s t h e l i n e b e t w e e n h a v e ’ s a n d h a v e n o t ’ s in C o rin t h , a n d u s e s e m p a t h y ( l i t e r a l l y t o f e e l w i t h ) t o t h o s e t o w h o m h e pre a c h e s . H a v e y o u e v e r r e c e i v e d h e a l i n g b e c a u s e a n o t h e r s u p p o r t e d y ou w it h e m pa t h y ? H a v e y o u e v e r o f f e r e d e m p a t h y t o a n o t h e r ? H o w i s C h r i s t p r e s e n t in t h is dy n a m ic ? T h e m o s t f r e q u e n t l y u s e d w o r d i n M a r k ’ s g o s p e l i s “ a n d” . J e s u s j u s t s e e m s t o j u s t r u n f r o m o n e s i t u a t i o n o f n e e d t o a n o t h e r . W h e n w e ’ re fo c u s e d o n t ru ly m a k i n g a d i f f e r e n c e i n a n o t h e r ’ s l i f e , i t t a k e s s o m e t h in g fro m u s , it c o s t s u s . I n t o d a y ’ s g o s p e l w e s e e t h a t e v e n f o r a s h o r t w h i l e , J e s u s g e t s t o a qu ie t p l a c e t o r e p l e n i s h w h a t h e h a s f r e e l y , l o v i n g l y g i v e n . I s t h e re a pra y e r, a p r a c t i c e , a p l a c e , a t i m e t h a t a f f o r d s y o u t h i s b a l a n c e ? I f n o t , c a n y o u fin d one?

THE PARISH CONNECTION

A T S T . C O L U M B A C H U R C H , W E A R E D E D IC A T E D T O C RE A T IN G A V IB RA N T A N D W E L C O M I N G C O M M U N IT Y F O R F A M IL IE S A N D IN D IV ID U A L S S E E K I N G F A I T H F O R M A T I O N . H E R E A R E S O M E O F T H E E X C IT IN G A C T I V I T I E S T H A T W E O F F E R E A C H W E E K . W E IN V IT E Y O U T O J O IN U S F O R T H E S E E V E N T S A N D E X P E R IE N C E T H E W A R M T H A N D H O S P IT A L IT Y O F T H E S T . C O L U M B A C O M M U N IT Y .

Parish connection (continued):